Power-driven stalk cutter



E. F. OHLENDOFQF POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER Oct. 6, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D66. 18. 1948 F W TN mm m F U E ATTORNEYS 1953 E. F. OHLENDORF v 2,654,199

' POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER Filed Dec. 1a, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 E. F. OHLENDORF POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER Oct. 6, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18. 1948 INVENTOR.

EMIL F. OHLENDORF I TORNEYS Oct. 6, 1953 E. F. OHLENDORF POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER 8 Sh eets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1948 IN VEN TOR. EMlL F. OHLENDORF Oct. 6, 1953 E. F. OHLENDORF 2,654,199

POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER Filed Dec. 18, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. EMIL F. OHLENDORF Oct. 6, 1953 E. F. OH'LENDORF POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER 8 Sheets-Shget 6 Filed Dec. 18, 1948 FIG. I3

@446 FIG. l5

L 226 i FIG. l2

INVILNTOR. EMIL .F. OHLENDORF 6, 1953 E. F. OHLENDORF 2,654,199

POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER Filed Dec. 18, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I I jNVENTQR. 'EMIL F. OHLENDORF ORNEYS Oct. 6, 1953 E. F. OHLENDORF 2,654,199

. POWER-DRIVEN STALK CUTTER I Filed 09. 18, 1948 a Sheets-Sheet s 29 I rrn rm 5 U j [ED 7' |s 274 FIG. l9

INVENTOR. EMIL F. OHLENDORF FIG. 24.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 Molin'e', 111., a corporation of Illien ieeim 9999 1 232 18, l-8e eetie 8,2 time! This invention relates *generally to agricultural machines and'morepar ulai ly 'to'a maehinefor shredding'or di'sin "ng standin 'erop? stems in the field, such as cor-nstalksf'ottori stalks and" the like," and for sdattefirig the shredded or"disintegrated"particle s for iaeilit'ating the (16-1 striieti'on of insects, "seen as boil weevils; corn berets and the'likel and 1 01 iailitating the re turn of'th'e stalk inater'ialto the 'soil'as huinus. "The objeet and "general nature of the present invention is the'prov ision er. a" stalk shredder" or like machine which inayreadily be" mounted on afarm tractor and driven by power derived from the tractor-motor. More particularly, it'is a feature of this inventioh'to'prdvide means io'r'guiding stalks lying on the ground, crosswise of the rows, or'fthe. ilikeintoi the stalk shredding units, andanother feature'Tof this invention is the provision of means, preferably assoei'ated with""the shreddin knives, for? insuring thepa'ssageot the stalks torth'e shredding units.

'A further feature (if thisinvention is the provision of new and improved means'for'inounting and supportingthe bearirigs of the varies-s parts; par-.tiiilarly the rotating" knives so' that" proper alignment is-iriaintainedfatall time's.""

.mhese and otherobiects and'advantages of the P ent'inventionwill'be 'appareiit t6th6se skilled i-rltheart a'f-ter a considerationofthfdlloWihE detailedldescniptioh', taken-in conjiui'c "on with the accompanying drawings."

Figure Iis a perspective view of a tractormollnted stalkeutterf or's'hredder in which "the principlso'f the' prs'erit inventien have-been 1 4. -I 1. as mm:

Figure 2? is a perspective view looking at the lowei rearlportion'o fthefitalk sliredder sho'wn'in Figure 1., i H, 1. e M. he... "1 Figure 3 is a iragmentar-y perspective view showing theiconnecti'o'n of" the "drajtdramestc'g the pr opell-ing'tractor'." "Figure '4 is a perspective enlarged view showing the details o'f tlie'ro'tc'ir driving" meehamsm. FiguFeS is a' fragfnentary side view bfthe rear portion of stalk'shr'leiider'in which'fthe rmcipies of'the present iiivention ave been ncor rated; T iiiigfur e(Sis a r eiilargedviewfibfthe"talk shredder shown ifi ure 52" "Figure 1 'i's'a fr; ntary sectional view on an enlarged some ta n aldng'the""' tiofi line 141 of Figure r Rig-lure eis a detailed view of one of the rotor bearing supports. Fi ure 'Zla'is a view of Eigure 31a looking from he ri ht to, the left. i

11 C aims- (01. 557-118)..

2 Figure 8 is a fragmehtary view showing the aetiori'ef "the butting knives in 'drawingdwse' I through the-"stam't nneis; Figure""9"is g; fragment ry" perspective view similar to "Figure 1; showing the prevision'or an auxiliary stalk guidin'g means disposed between the two main 'st'al-k guidirig means 'and pratm'g to 'pick up stalks and' the'like 'that'are downon thie round, particularly "stalk-s between the" rows: Figure 10 is"arhod-'ified'fdrin o1"- 'cbnriection'b' tween the retor housing and" the .igure i1 is 'a top plan view of a: H of stalk "shreddingelementf "Figure '12 isa' side vi'evv'of the stalk shredding elementshbw n'in Eigur'e'n: Figure 13' is'a't'op plan view of a further modified 'forfn oi stalk shredding" element" Figure -1'4 is" a"sectional' view"ofthe mounting taken on1ineM- M of Figureil i Figure 15" is a 's'ec t'ienal view'of the resilien bladefbaken (5'n' 1in 15- -l5 0f Fii1r"l3.' Figure 1'6 is a hdodified form of shield in which aniextr'a length rubber flap is'used to preventth building up ofmate'rialoh the iflside 'of the shield when operatingund'ericonditions where the mate rial being shredded; is damp and sticky, "such as green cotton stalks. Figure 17 shows. an end view ofanotherterm ofstalk cutting knife, especi'ally adapted for use in chopping green-- cotton stalksand'otlier lin'ty or fibrous plants.

Eigure'fls is a top plan view of the knife shown V ,7. a .1.

"Figure 19 is a side view of a further modified bladev for use in close proximitytothe' ground; Figure 20 is a sectionalview taken on line lag-alibi Figure 19. Eigure 21 is a top plan .view. of an auxiliary cut:- ter blade extens I iggure 22 is" a side view of the auxiliary cutter blade shown in'ijiigure 21, attached to a'blade'o'f the character'shown in Figure 6; Fi ure 23 shows a roto'rrshield constructed as shown in Figure 16. but with the additiofiof "a wield flanaflnstiug pl Eigurefii shows a modified construction in which the stalk cutter or shredder is ionnected t9, t e tracter by p'airallel'links.

R ferr n now .tOCthe drawings, particularly Fi ure ithe. operatin unitof the stalk shredder ndioated its entirety by the reference. nu= ilfiififil l @Lld connected with the rear axleof the propelling tractor by "a pair of 'draft members or draft frames 2. Each dfthe latterinclifde's generally i016 and aft extendinghars sandt whose forward ends are pivoted ttif'a"p'air diinner bar 6 of the associated draft frame. By

irirtue of the one-way connection between the arms I? and draft frame 2, the latter may move upwardly relative to the tractor at any time during operation.

The frame of the stalk cutter is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral and comprises a transverse rigid part in the form of a channel 22 disposed transversely behind the tractor and disposed with its flanges extending rearwardly, as best shown in Figure 5. Secured to the forward side of the channel 22 adjacent each end thereof is a pair of pivot brackets 24 to which the downturned ends 5a and 6a. of the associated draft frame member 2 are pivotally connected, as by pivot bolts 2 5. The rear portions of each pair of draft frame bars 5 and 6 are reenforced by a U-shaped cross member 21 to which reference will be made below. Secured to the channel 22 alongside the pivot brackets 24 are pairs of downwardly extending angles 29 and 30, the upper end of each angle preferably being secured, as by a bolt 3 I, to the transverse frame channel 22.

Stalk-guiding means in the form of tunnels, each indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 35, is secured to the transverse frame channel 22 by the angles 29 and 30. Each of the stalk-guiding members 35 comprises side sheets 36 and 3? and an upper or top sheet 38 which are fastened together in any suitable way and converge rearwardly, as best indicated in Figures 2 and 5. The front portions of the sides and top 35, 37 and 38 are shaped to form rounded stalkguiding sections 4|, and the lower edges of the sides 38 and 31 are rigidly secured to groundengaging runners 42 which are formed of angles 23 and stalk-lifting points 44. The angles 43 are securely fixed, as by welding, to the lower ends of the frame angles 29 and 30. Preferably, also, the frame angles 29 and are welded to the sides 36 and 31 at one or more points.

At its rear end, each of the stalk-guiding tunnels has secured thereto a generally vertically disposed sub-frame member 45, each member 45 being made up of a pair of vertical frame angles 46, which diverge upwardly, as best shown in Figure 4, and an upper cross angle 4? which is apertured centrally. The lower ends of the frame angles 46 are securely fixed, as by welding, to the sides 36 and 31 of the tunnels 35 and also to the rear end of the runner angles 43. By virtue of the structure just described, the two stalkguiding tunnels 35 and the vertically extending laterally spaced apart sub-frame members 45 are rigidly and securely connected to the cross frame channel 22 whereby the whole constitutes a rigid sturdy unit.

The stalk-cutting or shredding rotors and the drive mechanism associated therewith are, according to the principles of the present invention, supported rigidly and firmly on the rigid cross channel member 22. To this end, the central portion of the channel 22 is provided with a drive shaft pedestal which is made up of a short channel El disposed in the plane of the channel 22 and welded at its lower end thereto and a longer channel 63 which is arranged back to back with respect to the channel BI and extended downwardly along the front face of the channel 22, and welded thereto, as best shown in Figure 4. Secured to the upper ends of the two channel sections GI and 63, which are flush, is a center bearing plate 65 having a pair of openings to receive the bolts 66 by which a journal box member 68 is rigidly secured to the upper end of the pedestal 60. The journal box 58 includes a base H apertured to receive the attaching bolts 66 and a front downwardly extending flange section 12 which is tapped to receive a pair of adjusting set screws 13. The bolt holes in the several parts are sulficiently larger than the clamping bolts 65 so that by loosening the clamping bolts 66 and adjusting one or the other of the adjusting set screws 13, which bear at the inner ends against the forward edge of the plate 65, the position of the journal box 68 on the transverse frame member 22 may be adjusted. Supported for rotation by suitable bearing means within the journal box 68 is a drive shaft H on the rear end of which a double pulley I8 is fixed. lhe member 18 includes a forward pulley section I9 and a rear pulley section 8|. Secured to the forward end of the shaft 71 is a. universal joint 83 by which the drive shaft H is connected to the power take-off shaft of the propelling tractor, as by a telescopic shaft means 84 or the like. The shaft connection 84 includes a universal joint (not shown) at its forward end whereby power is transmitted from the tractor power take-01f to the drive pulley T8 in different positions of the stalk shredder relative to the boxes 9% are substantially the same as or identi-,

cal with the drive shaft journal box 68. Each rotor shaft journal box 90 is mounted for transverse adjustment along the transversely disposed frame channel 22, and to this end each .end portion of the channel 22 is provided with a specially constructed support for the associated journal box to insure that the latter when being adjusted is shifted substantially directly toward and away from the centrally disposed drive shaft ll so as to avoid any misalignment between the drive and driven pulleys. As best shown in Figure '7, each rotor shaft journal box support is indicated by the reference numeral 100 and comprises a pair of vertically extending plates i0! and H12 secured, as by welding, to opposite sides of the channel 22, and at their upper ends the plates Ifll and [02 are welded to a transversely extending bearing plate ")3 which is slotted, as at I04, and has an upturned end I05 tapped to receive an adjusting screw I06. The

upper surfaces of the bearing plates I03 are accurately parallel to the upper surface of the center bearing plate 65. The slots I04 receive the attaching bolts 94, and the flange 95 overhangs I the forward edge of the associated bearing plate I03. The adjusting cap screws 98 on each of the rotor shaft journal boxes provide for bringing these parts accurately into the proper p 1- tion to secure and maintain parallelism of the rotor shafts with respect to one another and the receives and supports a pulley member 11-0- which, "as best shown in Figure], includes a pulley section I I I and a hollow cup-like hub section I I2 which is fastened in any suitable way on the outer or rear end of the associated rotor shaft 9 I. The pulley members I'I'fl at the right and left hand side of the machine are substantially identical, except that the pulley section 1 I I of the left hand member is disposed a short distance rearwardly as compared with the right hand member so as to accommodate the disposition of the left hand driving belt H3 in a plane which is rearwardly of thepl'an'e of the right hand driving belt I, as best shown in Figure The belts are tightcried and maintained in the proper degree of tautness by a proper adjustment of the adjusting screws Hi6, and the ,set screws '96 and associated parts maintain the planes of the rotor pulley sections I'II accurately coincidental with the planes of the corresponding drive pulley se ctions I9 and *BI, whereby there is substantially no tendency for the pulleys to get out of line, with resultant excessive wear or improper op oration of the-drive belts H3 and IN.

Thejhub section H 2 of each of the pulley members H is provided with -'a plurality of rearwardly'di-r'ected apertured lugs, theape'rtures of which are tapped to receive cap screws I H which attach a knife plate I I8 rigidly to the hub portion I'I2. Each knife plate I I8 is preferablyof square configuration but may be of any suitable shape as desired. In the preferred formof my inventieh, the corner portions o'f each plate H8 is provided with a pair of radially spaced apertures I1 9 to receive attaching bolts I 24 which fix the associated shredding knives I2-2 to the rotor plate I IB. Prefer-ably, there are 'four knives 12-2 fixed to each rotor plate -"I I 8 and, as best shown in Figure 6, each of the knives is provided with a cutting edge IQ-3 having a plurality :of notches I 21 formed in the cutting edge and -'a notch 4 25 and an opening Il'G adjacent thereto in each end portion of the knife. Each 'k-nife' is attached to the rotor plate l ld 'by means or thG bOTtS H I ,-mentioned :above, one 'of the bolts extending through the opening 1 26 and the other bolt --extending through the notch [2 15. If the knife should strike an obsftruction, such as a rock, stum'por the'like,

the end (if the knife held by the innermost bolt I-2 I, which extends through the slot 125, swings out :from the "bolt about the other bolt I 2 I as a pivot into the position shown in=dottedlines in the lower left hand portion of Figure 6, thus permitting the knife to pass over the obstruction without ibreakage o'fganyof the parts. It is then a simple matter to loosen the innermost bolt IZ-I slightly, restore theknife 122 to its normal position and then :tighten these bolts I-2I the necessary amount .to secure the desired frictional release lchara'cteristics. IFhe knives =I22 may be reversed send to end when one end is worn beyond its ie'fiicient iusefulness. -As best shown in Figure 8, the :plane :of operation :of the rotor knives lies an :appreciable distance, represented -by the reference characteriDiin Eigure..-8, .rearwardly of the end :of l the .associated stalk-:guidin'g tunnels 35. The particular :purpose of this arrangement iis to cause theaknivesmot only to disintegrateorshred the stalks but, in :doin'gfso, to exert :some tendency to draw the: 'stalks re'ar-w'ardly through the tunnel. As best-shown'in Figured, during the act of cutting o'r shredding the stalks, each-stalk is ben-t slightly around the side of the tunnel 3 5, somewhat as indicated in dotted line in "Figure particularl the loose or detached stalks, rearwardly through the tunnels or stalk-guiding means 35. This stalk movement aids in preventing the stalks from lodging or becoming jammed in the tunnel, particularly after the lower or root portions of the stalks have been severed.

A shield structure I30 surrounds the rotatable knives and will now be described. The shield I30 includes a front plate I'3I bolted, as at I32. to the lower portion of the angles 46 of the'subframes 45 and, as at I33, to the upper end portions of said angles; A channel-like U-shaped top member I36 is welded or otherwisefirmly fixed to the front plate or sheet -I3I and to a rear sheet or plate ISI, the lower edge I38 of which lies above the lower edge I39 of the front sheet I31 so as to provide a space S at the rear of the shield I39 to provide for egress of the shredded plant material. A U-shaped guard part I42 is fixed at its ends to the sides of the top section I36 and, as best shown in Figure is disposed at the rear of the space S so as to prevent persons or animals 'from inadvertently coming into contact with the rotating knives -yet the part member I42 does not appreciably interfere with the distribution or egress of the shredded plant material. Lower intermediate and end front plates MB, I4'Iand I'48are f xed, as by bolts "M9, to the lower edge of the front main sheet I3I, and the adjacent ends of the lower plates hit- M8 are bolted, *as at 151, to

the rear ends of the stalk-guiding tunnels '35. Preferably, the rear end-pQ itions of the-tunnels are reenforced by shear straps I53 and I54 disposed on the associated parts in such position as to cooperate with the rotating knives 12-2, as best shown in Figure '2.

As "also best shown in Figure 2, the left hand rotor, rotating clockwise, as shown in Figure -6,

directs material generally toward the left end of the shield structure I-SII. In order to prevent soil and the like from building up on the left end of'the-shield I30, this portion of theupper member of the shield terminates at about thelevel of the lower edge I39 ofthefrontsheet ISI. At this point a flexible sheet, formed of rubber or rubber-like material is f xed, as by 'a pair of bolts I51 and a strapimember158, to'the lower-left end portion of the upper shield; member I36. The flexible -member-is 'indicatedby the reference numeral I6!) and normally hangs downwardly in the position shown in Figure 6 the member I-Iiil being folded-upwardly inFigure 2 inorder to show other-parts of the stalk,

end of the shield member, do nottend to build up on the shield and thus interfere with the proper operation of the rotors, particularly the left hand rotor. In order-to prevent material from building up in the upper interior generally central portionofthe shield' I313, the'latteris provided --with a v-shaped -member I 63 which is disposed ina-position-best shown in'Figure'fi. The member H53 prevents any substantial amounts of material -build-in-g -up on "the shield which, if permitted to do so, would periodically be re'leased an-dthen -f-all ina relatively heavy mass and thus be thrown fromthemachine-in the form ofa lump, which would not be desirable, not only from the standpoint of, suddenly overloading *the'rotatingknivesbut also from the standpoint of securing a .uniform distribution over the ground of the shredded material. The drive pulleys and belts, as well as the bearings and other portions of the drive mechanism, best shown in'Figure 4, are protected by a generally triangular shield I55 which covers these parts and, cooperating with the lower plate members I46, I41 and I48 and the front shield plate I3I, serves to prevent any of the shredded plant material from being thrown into the drive mechanism. The shield I55 is supported by bolts ISB and I6! on brackets I68 and I69, the former bracket being a part of the central bearing member 88 and the other bolts I61 connecting the shield I65 to a pair of brackets I89 (Figure 9) carried at the forward side of the front shield plate I 3!.

The front shield plate I 3I is provided with a pair of oblong openings I15 (Figure 6) so as to receive and be passed in assembly over the hub portions H2 (Figure '7) of the associated driven pulleys III]. By virtue of the openings I15 in the front shield plate I3I being oblong, movement of the driven pulley bearings along the frame channel 22 is accommodated. However, in order to provide means to prevent any shredded plant material from being thrown forwardly through the openings H5, a guard plate I" having a circular flanged opening I18 (Figure 7) snugly embracing the forward portion of the hub section 2 is connected to the shield plate I 3! by bolts IBI passing through slots I82 formed in the shield plate i3! adjacent the ob long openings I15. Thus, by loosening the bolts IN the guard plate ITI may be adjusted along the shield plate with the bearing members 95.

As mentioned above, the draft frames 2 are pivotally connected at their forward ends to depending brackets 8 and 9 fixed to the rear axle of the propelling tractor, and the stalk shredder as a unit is raised and lowered by the power take-01f unit I of the tractor, acting through arms I1 and chains I9 to raise the rear ends of the draft frames 2 and the associated stalkshredding mechanism. The position of the latter relative to the rear end portions of the draft frames 2 may be adjusted, as desired, by means of a pair of lock nuts I9I disposed on the for- Ward threaded portion of a bolt member I92 pivotally connected at its upturned end I93 in the opening 48 of the upper member 41 of the associated sub-frame 45. Under some conditions of operation some resiliency may be desirable in this connection and, as best shown in Figure 10, longer members I95 may be substituted for the bolt members I92 and connected like the latter members to the sub-frame angles 47, extending at their forward ends through the associated bracket I96 that is fixed to the draft frame member 21. A set screw collar I97 at the rear of the bracket I96 serves as one limit, and a similar set screw collar I98 at the forward side, together with a spring I99 interposed between the set screw collar !98 and the bracket I95 provides the desired resiliency.

For operating under conditions where the stalks are broken down and lying between the rows, I provide a centrally mounted auxiliary stalk-guiding shoe unit indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 200 in Figure 9. Referring now to this figure, the shoe unit 209 includes a shaped shoe element 2IlI fixed at the forward end of a bifurcated arm member 202, preferably made up of a pair of strap members 203 fixed at their forward ends to a bracket carried by the shoe 2M and spacedapart-at their rear ends and pivotally connected to a pair of angle brackets 205 carried at the forward side of the frame channel 22. A rod 208 is pivotally connected at its lower end to one of the strap members 203 and at its upper end passesthrough a slot in'an arm 2 carried by a rockshaft 2I2 supported for rocking movement in a pair of brackets 2I3 and 2M bolted to the innermost draft frame bars 6.- An arm 2I6 is fixed to the left end of the shaft 2I2 and is pivotally connected by a link 2I'I to a part on the tractor, such as an upper extension 9a (Figure 3) formed on the right hand bracket 9 and apertured'as at 2I8, to receive the forward turned end of the link 2I1. Thus, as the stalk-cutting unit is raised by the tractor power lift, a rearward thrustwill be exerted to the link 2|! against the arm 2I6 so as to rock the shaft 212 in a direction to act through the arm 2| I against a set screw collar 22I fixed to the upper end of the rod 208 so as to lift the auxiliary guiding unit 200 not only relative to the ground but also relative to the forward inner portions of the associated stalk-guiding tunnels 45. A spring 222 encircles the upper end of the rod 208 below the arm 2 II and above a second set screw collar 223 so as to provide means for resiliently pressing the auxiliary guide unit 200 downwardly against the surface of the ground. In this way the shoe unit 200 diverts stalks lying on the ground into one or the other of the stalk tunnels 35.

The operation of the implement as so far described is believed to be apparent from the above description. Briefly, power from the tractor motor is delivered to the shredding unit through the telescopic shat 84 and rotates the rotors at a speed suihcient to shred into small particles all stalks and the like which pass rearwardly through the guiding means 35. Preferably, the stalkshredding unit is lowered to a point where the outer ends of the knives I22 pass at or slightly above the ground surface. The paths of rotation of the sets of knives are disposed a slight distance rearwardly of the rear ends of the tunnels, as best shown in Figure 8 so as to exert a tendency to pull stalks s through the tunnels as well'as shred or comminute the plant material. The knives are rotated preferably at such speeds as to thoroughly and positively disintegrate the stalks and the like, such as cornstaiks, cotton stalks and similar plant growth. If one of the knives should strike a rock or other obstruction the knife slips away from the innermost bolt by virtue of the slot I25, which forms one kind of friction brake means, but once the obstruction is passed centrifugal force pivots the released knife about the innermost bolt I2I so that the knife assumes a position suihciently near its normal operating position as not to throw the machine seriously out of balance until the same can be stopped and the innermost bolt I 2I loosened to permit a repositioning of the knife and then tightened to establish the desired frictional connection at this point.

For operating on smaller slender upright stalks, which might under certain conditions be bypassed by the usual knives such as stalks that might be so small as to remain untouched between successive paths of movement of the several knives, the form of knife shown in Figure 11 may be used to replace the knives I22 described above. Referring now to Figures 11 and 12, each knife is indicated by the reference numeral 224 and includes a rearwardly turned end 225 have r aesguae ing sufiicient axial dimension so that the knives 222 effectively contact all material. The knife 222 is provided with a pivot hole 226 to receive the outermost attaching bolt 'I2I. and a release slot 235 to receive the innermost attaching bolt I2I, the knives 224 being mounted substantially the same way as the knives I22 shown, for example, in Figure 6-.

A further form of stalk-shredding. unit is shown in Figures 13-15. Referring now to these figures, the rotor plate II8 is apertured, as at 24I, to receive a bolt 242 which extends through the associated aperture 24I in the plate H8 and through a pair of bushings 243 and 244 disposed on the bolt 242 with a washer 245 therebetween.

Instead of providing stalk-shredding knives, in

the nut 25I is tightened the washers 249 and 245 are fixed firmly against the associated bushings 243 and 244, and the latter, in turn, are firmly fixed to the rotor plate IIB bu-twithout interfering with the free swinging action of the beater bars 246.

Figure 16 shows a slightly modified form of shield construction, especially adapted for use under conditions where a tendency for soil and other particles to build up at the left side of the shield is quite pronounced, as when cutting up green cotton stalks. It has been found that when operating under such conditions, linty material 1 from the unopened bolls, when shredded, tends to adhere to the sides of the shield, particularly at the left side of the left rotor, and especially when mixed with moisture from the shredded plant foliage. Under such conditions the function of the rubber flap unit I60, shown in Fig. 6, may be inadequate, and according to the principles of the presentinvention I prov-idean extra length flexible member indicated in itsentiretyin Figure 16 by the reference numeral 260. To provide for the installation of the extra length'flap unit 260, the left side of the shield strip I36 is cut off at the point indicated by the reference numeral 26I, the strip being drilled to provide openings to receive a pair of bolts 262 andan anchoring strap 263. When using the extra length rubber flap 260, the guard bar I42 may-be moved to an upper position, as indicated by the reference numeral 264, or the guard bar may be fixed to the shield by the same bolts that secure the upper edge of the flap 260 in place.

In Figures 11 and 12 I have shown a stalkshredding knife especially adapted to operate on small slender stalks and having an extension 225 to insure that all of the stalks will, be cut by the knives. Where the knives are provided with right angular extensions there may be some tendency for material to tend to hang onto the extensions, which might interfere with the proper shredding of the plants. In order t provide a type'of knife in which there is no tendency for material to hang on the knife, the form shown in Figures 17 and 18 may be adopted. Referring to these figures, a knife or cutter blade210 is shownas having an extension 21I' which is disposed, not

at right angles, but at an outwardly and rearwardly disposed angle.

or the like, that angle is sufficient tov cause centrifugal force to act to strip any material that would tend to hang onto the extensions21l, yet by virtue of the extensions all of the plant material is shredded as the machine passes down the row. On the other hand, if it should be desired to have the knife extensions disposed perpendicular to the main body of the knife, as in order to operate close to the ground but Without digging up too much soil, the form of knife or cutter blade shown in Figures 19 and 20 may be used. Referring now to these figures, the cutter blade 214 is shown. as provided with a right angularly disposed blade extension 215, but the cutting edge 216 (Figure 20) of the latter is formed to make a retreating angle of about fortyfive degrees. This permits linty and/or fibrous material to slip away from the knife extensions in operation.

If it should be desired to provide a stalkshred der, such as the one shown in Figure 1 et seq., with cutting blades having extensions, as in or,- der to shred small upright stalks and the like, an auxiliary cutter blade extension, such .as the one shown in Figures 21 and 22, may be provided for each .of the cutter blades. The cutter blade ex.- tension is indicated in Figures. 21 and 22 by the reference numeral 280 and comprises a main body portion 28I and an angularly disposed, gen.- erally rearwardly extending cutting, section, 282, the angle of the latter section being approximately twenty-five degrees with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor. The body portion 28I of the cutter blade extension 280 is provided with a pair of bolt holes .284 to receive bolts 285 which fasten the extension to the. outer end of the conventional blade or knife I22, which, is mounted ordinarily as best shown in Figure2. The provision of the cutter blade extension knives 2130v has the advantage that the straight cutter blades may be used for most conditions of operation, the angular cutter blade extensions 280 being mounted directly on the conventional knives I 22 in order to meet the conditions in which knife extensions are desirable. For example, straight knives I 2.2 have been found .to be quite adequate for practically all corn fields, but knives having extensions may be desirable when operating in cotton fields, as mentioned above.

Figure 23 shows a shield flap adjusting plate which may be used with the extra length flap 26!] shown in Figure vl6. Referring now to Figure 23, the shield flap adjusting plate is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 30!! and comprises a hat body portion at: and a wing section 302 extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the body portion 30! The body portion 3.! extends upwardly,as at 303, beyond the upper edge of the flange or wing section 3122 andis apertured to receive a pair of bolts 305 which fasten the adjusting plate 3-90 to the shield, the bolts 305 passing through the opening-s which, in Figure 16, receive the bolts 262. The wing section v302 is provided with an arcuate slot 308 and lies on the forward side of the main shield sheet I 3-I. -The sheet I3] is apertured to receive a clampin'g' bolt 30.9 which when tightened holds the shield 300 in different positions. For example, the-shield flap adjusting plate 300 may be held in outwardly the upper portion of the extra length flexible -member 260 is, as just described, secured to the outwardly and downwardly extending adjusting plate 300, this portion of the flexible member 250, which is made of rubber or rubber-like material, serves to prevent material from building up at this portion of the rotor shield. The shield flap adjusting plate 306 is moved to different positions of adjustment by bending the upper part of the flap sheet portion 3M adjacent the bolts 305. If

desired, the adjusting plate member 300 may be moved inwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 23, and the flexible member 260 secured to the lower edge of the section 30!, in which case the flexible member 250 serves substantially the same purpose as the shorter flexible H member I60 shown in Fi ure 1 et seq. In order to prevent sticky and/or linty material, or the like from building up in undesired quantities on the inside of the shield, the latter may be coated with rubber or rubber-like material or the like, applied to the inside surfaces of the shield by spraying or other means. If desired, the guard bar 264 may be fastened to the shield I39 by the bolts 305.

The stalk shredder unit I is shown in Figures 1,

3 and 5 as pivotally connected, as at l, to the lower ends of the tractor-carried brackets 8 and 9, whereby the stalk shredder unit I is swingable about the axis defined by the pivots I when the unit is raised and lowered. Ordinarily, this provides sufficient clearance between the points 44 and the ground when the unit is raised for transport, but if it should be desired to provide for an increased clearance between the points 44 and the ground, the unit I may be connected with the tractor T by a system of parallel links, as shown in Figure 24. Referring now to this figure, a brace 320 is fixed to each of the attachment plates II] and extends upwardly therefrom, generally midway between the associated depending brackets 8 and 9. The upper end of each bracket 320 is apertured, as at 32L to receive an adjusting swivel 322 in which the forward threaded end of an upper link 323 is disposed. The rear end of each of the upper links 32| has a downturned portion 324 which is disposed in the opening 48 in the associated upper frame bar 41, the links 323 replacing the stabilizing rods I92 and I95 (Figures 5 and 10). In order to provide resilency, where desired, a spring 325 may be disposed about the forward end of each of the rods 323, forwardly of the adjusting swivel 322, each spring 326 acting between the associated swivel 322 and a forward lock nut 32?. A rear lock nut 328 on each of the rods 323 normally determines the angle of the rock-gathering points 4 5. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 24, the stalk shredding unit is raised and lowered by connections I9 with the tractor power lift unit, as illustrated in Figure 3.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details, shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tractor mounted stalk shredder comprising a unit including a frame, a generally fore and aft extending stalk-guiding means, and a stalk-cutting means carried by said frame at the rear end of said stalk-guiding means, a draft member adapted to be pivoted at its forward end to the tractor and pivotally connected at its rear end to said frame, whereby. said frame, stalkguiding means and said stalk-cutting means may pivot relative to the rear portion of said draft member and the latter, with said frame, stalkguiding means and stalk-cutting means, may pivot relative to the tractor, and resilient means acting between said frame and said draft member for urging the forward portion of said stalkguiding means down into contact with the ground.

2. Drive transmission means for a tractor mounted stalk shredder, comprising a frame including a transverse rigid cross bar, a bearing support rigidly fixed to the central portion of said cross bar, a drive shaft carrying a dual drive pulley mounted in said bearing support, a pair of laterally spaced outer bearing supports fixed rigidly to the end portions of said cross bar and each including a generally rectangular portion extending longitudinally of the cross bar, a pair of journal boxes mounted for sliding movement on said rectangular portions, respectively, each of said journal boxes including a flange portion guidingly engaging the adjacent edge of the associated rectangular bearing support portion, a pair of driven shafts, each carrying a driven puiley, mounted for rotation in said journal boxes, respectively, said driven pulley being disposed in the planes of said dual driving pulley, said journal box flange portions engaging the adjacent edge of said rectangular bearing support portions for constraining movement of said journal boxes to movement in or parallel to said planes, and means for driving said drive pulley.

3. A tractor mounted stalk shredder comprising a unit including a transverse frame having a pair of laterally spaced upwardly extending sections, and a pair of laterally spaced generally fore and aft extending stalk-shredding units, a pair of laterally spaced fore and aft extending draft frames adapted to be connected at their forward ends with the tractor, said draft frames having downturned portions at their rear ends, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said downturned portions to said transverse frame, and adjustable means acting between each of said laterally spaced upwardly extending sections of said transverse frame and the upper ends of said rear downturned draft frame portions for adjusting the position of the forward portion of each of said stalk-shredding units.

4. In a tractor mounted stalk shredder including rotatable stalk shredding members and adapted to be mounted on a tractor, drive mechanism comprising a rigid transverse cross bar, an upwardly extending pedestal fixed to the central portion of said cross bar, journal means carried at the upper end of said pedestal, a drive shaft mounted in said journal means, a dual drive pulley fixed to the rear end of said drive shaft, a pair of laterally outer bearing supports having upper journal box receiving sections extending transversely and substantially parallel to the upper journal box receiving means of said pedestal, said laterally outer journal box receiving sections being slotted, a pair of journal boxes mounted for lateral adjustment along the slotted portions of said last mentioned sections, a flange on each laterally outer journal box disposed alongside the adjacent edge of the associated laterally outer bearing support and carrying means engagin said edge so as to restrain movement of said journal box to movement thereof substantially in a straight line toward and away from said drive shaft, and driven shafts journaled in said laterally outer journal boxes, each of said shafts carrying a driven pulley the plane of which coincides with one or the other of the planes of the sheave sections of said dual drive pulley, said slots lying substantially parallel to said planes whereby adjustment of said laterally outer journal boxes does not change the angularity between said drive and driven pulleys.

5. In a two row tractor mounted stalk shredder, a frame and tunnel construction comprising a transverse main frame member, a pair of stalkguiding tunnels disposed in a generally fore and aft direction under the outer end portions of said transverse frame member, two pairs of vertical frame parts fixed at their upper ends to the forward side of said transverse frame member and at their lower portions to the sides of said tunnels, respectively, adjacent their rear ends, two pairs of laterally spaced generally vertically extending sub-frame members having lower portions fixed to the rear portions of said tunnels, respectively, said sub-frame members extending upwardly beyond said transverse main frame member, and a rotor-embracing shield carried on the upper portions of said sub-frame members.

6. In a two-row tractor-mounted stalk shredder, draft structure comprising a transverse frame member, generally vertical subframe members fixed at their lower portions to said transverse frame means, a pair of laterally spaced draft members, a pair of hitch means pivotally connected with the forward ends of said draft members, respectively, and adapted for attachment to the rear portion of said tractor, pivot brackets fixed to the ends of said transverse frame member, means for pivotally connecting the rear ends of said draft members with said pivot brackets, an upper link-receiving means on each of said hitch means, a pair of upper links,

one disposed above each of said draft members, pivotally connected with said upper link-receiving means, respectively, and means pivotally connecting the rear ends of said upper links with the associated subframe members.

7. In a two-row tractor-mounted stalk shredder, draft structure comprising a transverse frame member, generally vertical subframe members fixed at their lower portions to said transverse frame means, a pair of laterally spaced draft members, means pivotally connected with the forward ends of said draft members, respectively, and adapted for attachment to the rear portion of said tractor, pivot brackets fixed to the ends of said transverse frame member, means for pivotally connecting the rear ends of said draft members with said pivot brackets, each of said draft members comprising an L-shaped portion including a downwardly extending section at the rear end of each of said draft members, the lower portions of said downwardly extending sections being pivotally connected to said pivot brackets, and position-adjusting means acting between the upper portions of said sub-frame members and said draft members adjacent the uppermost portions of said downwardly extending sections thereof.

8. In a stalk shredder, a frame, a driven shaft, means for mounting said shaft on said frame, a pulley fixed to said shaft and including a generally axially extending hub section, a stalk shredder unit connected directly to said axially extending hub section at points spaced radially outwardly of said shaft so as to receive the driving effort without having the power delivered through said shaft.

9. Draft structure for a tractor mounted stalk shredder comprising a unit including a transverse frame having a pair of laterally spaced upwardly extending sections, said draft structure including-a pair of laterally spaced fore and aft extending draft frames adapted to be pivotally connected at their rear ends to said transverse frame adjacent the lower portions of said upwardly extending sections and adapted to be connected at their forward ends with the tractor, a pair of links disposed above said draft frames, respectively, and adapted to be pivotally connected at their forward ends with the tractor, and means for pivotally connecting the rear ends of said links with the upper portions of said laterally spaced upwardly extending frame sections.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9, further characterized by a pair of attachment plates, attachable to the tractor in laterally spaced relation, a pair of vertically extending parts carried thereby, and means for pivotally connecting the forward ends of said links and said draft frames to the upper and lower portions of said vertically extending parts.

11. In a stalk shredder, a frame, a driven shaft, means for mounting said shaft on said frame including a bearing section extending axially beyond the adjacent portion of the frame, a pulley fixed to said shaft and including a generally axially hub section adapted to be fixed to said shaft and a hollow, bell-like section extending axially inwardly from one end of said hub section in embracing relation relative to the other end of said hub section, said bell-like section extending axially inwardly beyond said other end of said hub section a distance sufficient to embrace and lie radially outwardly of the outer end of said bearing section, a grooved belt-receiving portion on the peripheral portion of that part of said bell-like section that lies radially outwardly of said bearing section, and a stalk-shredding unit connected directly to said one end of the hub section at points radially outwardly of said shaft.

EMIL F. OHLENDORF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 420,248 Sater Jan. 28, 1890 657,411 Hamm Sept. 4, 1900 988,844 Wilson Apr. 4, 1911 1,619,797 Martikainen Mar. 1, 1927 1,740,069 Chase Dec. 17, 1929 1,836,666 Katzfey Dec. 15, 1931 2,389,790 Leeper Nov. 27, 1945 2,479,510 Pollard et a1 Aug. 16, 1949 2,505,952 Ferga-son May 2, 1950 2,506,054 Agee et al May 2, 1950 2,517,401 Millard et al Aug. 1, 1950 2,534,481 Spraker Dec. 19, 1950 

